Chapter 42

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Translated by Seoulbound

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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**

The mouths of the four-knot disciples of the Hall of Rectitude fell open.

He had dealt a devastating blow to the body of a legendary great devil of the past, who had not suffered even a scratch from an all-out strike of their Dog-Beating Staff.

Stripping away one arm from a master of close-combat palm techniques,

Was no different from taking a martial artist’s life.

“What in the world…!”

“The Red Yang Demonic Immortal’s arm… has been cut off…!”

“How is that possible with bare hands?”

“Bringer of Chaos!”

The Taoists of the Cloud Sword Hall, who had been holding their breath nearby, also involuntarily let out gasps of admiration at the sight that defied martial arts common sense.

In addition, Gold-Knot Wandering Beggar, the Branch Leader of the Beggars’ Sect’s Hall of Rectitude, also stood with his mouth agape.

‘Truly!’

Although he himself had adjusted Yeon Baek-jung’s potential rating, this went far beyond his foresight. Who would believe him if he grabbed anyone in the Jianghu and said that a novice Taoist who had not even reached twenty years of age had torn off one of the Red Yang Demonic Immortal’s arms?

However, now was not the time to simply marvel, so

“Now is the time!”

Following Gold-Knot Wandering Beggar’s shout, the Beggars’ Sect disciples who were standing on their feet each gripped their weapons and closed in on the Red Yang Demonic Immortal. They did so because even a three-year-old child could tell that now was the opportunity.

The Red Yang Demonic Immortal, who had lost his arm, was hurriedly tapping the acupoints above his severed arm. Though the blood pouring from the severed cross-section was gradually stopping, his reddish, healthy-complexioned face had turned pale due to the large amount of blood already lost.

“You bastards!”

The Red Yang Demonic Immortal gnashed his teeth as he thought.

Could he slaughter them all in his current state?

And he turned his body.

He himself knew it too.

For a master’s body was like a system in itself.

Losing an arm did not simply mean that he had lost an arm. The iron fortress of external cultivation built until now had crumbled. To recover his previous level of skill, it was impossible without bone-shaving efforts.

Under such circumstances, the Red Yang Demonic Immortal’s condition was not good enough to face the enemies surrounding him.

He immediately began to flee.

“Uh!”

“The great Red Yang Demonic Immortal?!”

Even so, because the Red Yang Demonic Immortal had displayed such overwhelmingly dominant martial prowess, the Beggars’ Sect disciples had not predicted that he would actually flee. Gold-Knot Wandering Beggar immediately shouted,

“Chase him!”

Gold-Knot Wandering Beggar raised the internal energy of the Ten-Thousand-Li Autumn Wind movement skill, which was counted as one of the best under heaven, and chased after the retreating Red Yang Demonic Immortal.

**

While the Beggars’ Sect disciples went to chase the Red Yang Demonic Immortal,

Tang Jong-hyeok approached.

“Little Brother Yeon, are you alright?”

I opened my mouth to answer his question, but something else came out instead of a voice.

“Cough!”

As I coughed up a mouthful of frothy blood, Tang Jong-hyeok’s face instantly changed.

“Little Brother Yeon!”

Tang Jong-hyeok did not care about mud getting on his green silk robe and examined my condition.

“Your ribs are broken and have punctured your lung. Bear with it for a moment. It will sting.”

Along with those words, Tang Jong-hyeok threw the arm I was holding into the mud, lifted my blackened clothes, and set the broken bone.

‘Mmh.’

After the Big Dipper temporarily flashed before my eyes,

I took a deep breath.

“Fuu.”

Since breathing had become much easier than before, I tried to cup my fists toward Tang Jong-hyeok. However,

“No, why is someone with broken ribs cupping his fists!”

Then, examining here and there on my body, he asked,

“Are your Eight Extraordinary Vessels fine? Is your internal injury not severe? Seeing that you didn’t spit out black blood, it seems alright. What about your muscles? As for the burns on your skin, as soon as I return to Chibi, I will make a salve…”

“I am fine, Brother Tang.”

Only then did Tang Jong-hyeok close his mouth.

He had a look that seemed somewhat unable to believe it.

Immediately after, he pulled out a small pill from his chest and handed it to me. Since I already remembered receiving the same pill before,

“Is this not the Flesh-Generating Tendon-Connecting Pill?”

In response to my question, Tang Jong-hyeok simply handed the pill to me instead of answering.

“If it were not for Little Brother Yeon, I would have died anyway. If we were to settle the value of my life with just a Flesh-Generating Tendon-Connecting Pill, that would be a losing transaction for Little Brother Yeon.”

There was no way to keep refusing words that felt so sincere.

After bowing my head slightly to show my respects, I accepted the Flesh-Generating Tendon-Connecting Pill.

“Although it was also used as an antidote, fundamentally, the Flesh-Generating Tendon-Connecting Pill is a pill that replenishes the essence of the middle dantian. Eating it will accelerate recovery through true Qi. It would be the icing on the cake if you took it together with a spiritual medicine containing pure true Qi, but I couldn’t bring one on this journey…”

At his words, I pulled out an additional small pill from my chest and showed it to Tang Jong-hyeok.

“Would this be enough?”

“···It is sufficient.”

It was the Supreme Clarity Pill, a secret Wudang spiritual medicine I had received from Grandmaster.

Tang Jong-hyeok, as expected of a direct descendant of the Sichuan Tang Clan, also possessed deep knowledge in medicine.

“First eat the Flesh-Generating Tendon-Connecting Pill, and immediately after, eat the Supreme Clarity Pill. After eating them, circulate your true Qi along the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin and the Gallbladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang…”

Following Tang Jong-hyeok’s instructions, I tossed the two spiritual medicines into my mouth and sat cross-legged.

**

Tang Jong-hyeok calmly observed Yeon Baek-jung’s physical condition.

‘Since he even took the Supreme Clarity Pill, he should fully recover in about seven days.’

This was Tang Jong-hyeok’s thought as a physician of the Tang Clan.

Now it was time to act as a guardian for his companion, with whom he had shared a life-and-death struggle, as a warrior of the Tang Clan.

Thus, he kept watch on his surroundings and fiddled with the hidden weapons inside his sleeve. In the midst of this,

The moment a cracking sound was heard from the body of the cross-legged Yeon Baek-jung, Tang Jong-hyeok was greatly shocked and surveyed his surroundings.

Crack!

Shocked by the sound of something breaking or snapping, Tang Jong-hyeok grew extremely tense and looked around. However, there was nothing unusual.

Although he could see Yang So, who had recovered from the Red Yang Demonic Immortal’s palm force and raised his body, gathering evidence from the corpses of the dead Danyang Sect disciples alongside the Taoists of the Cloud Sword Hall, there was no reason for any breaking sound to occur.

Which meant,

‘Could it be?’

He turned his head and looked back.

The body of Yeon Baek-jung, who was sitting cross-legged, was shaking.

‘What in the world!’

The broken bones were mending.

Tang Jong-hyeok suddenly recalled what his uncle, Tang Baek-seon, had said.

—Yeon Baek-jung, that child is the genius among geniuses. In all my life, I have never seen such a skeletal structure.

What his uncle had said was not wrong.

“I think I just heard a strange sound…”

“Is Young Hero Yeon alright?”

“Is something bad happening to him?”

At the moment when the Taoists of the Cloud Sword Hall and Yang So of the Beggars’ Sect, who were gathering evidence, gathered to check on Yeon Baek-jung, Tang Jong-hyeok raised his index finger to his lips. It meant to be quiet.

When the Taoists of the Cloud Sword Hall shut their mouths in response to Tang Jong-hyeok’s action,

Yeon Baek-jung was slowly opening his eyes.

The skin that had swollen from the burns, and

The broken bones were all perfectly fine.

The recovery that was expected to take seven days took less than a single double-hour.

**

The next day.

Waking up at the inn, I stretched and checked my physical condition.

—Just in case… make sure to check your physical condition again when you wake up in the morning. Because you might not have fully recovered. If there’s any problem, let me know.

Unlike Tang Jong-hyeok’s worry, which he had left with trembling eyes, I felt no pain at all in the skin that had blistered from burns, nor in the area near the broken ribs on my flank.

The effect of taking the Flesh-Generating Tendon-Connecting Pill and the Supreme Clarity Pill together was astounding. The thought that arose in addition to that was:

‘As expected of the Elixir Condensation Stage!’

Although the Elixir Condensation Stage was the stage of condensing and solidifying true Qi to form a sphere of internal energy, more precisely, it was the stage of unifying the middle and lower dantians.

Controlling the internal energy accumulated in the lower dantian through the essence of the middle dantian, and enhancing physical abilities.

That was the meaning of the Elixir Condensation Stage in martial arts.

The conclusion—though of course it was an inference—was that thanks to the harmony between the unification of essence and Qi through the Elixir Condensation Stage, and the medical efficacy of the Flesh-Generating Tendon-Connecting Pill and the Supreme Clarity Pill, I was able to recover my body this quickly.

Having checked my body, I next sat cross-legged on the bed and recalled the bloody battle of the previous night.

‘Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown.’

A master who had achieved the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown was different in every way. Especially since there was a massive difference in the speed of body movement,

‘He was fast even within the elevated domain of cognitive perception.’

Velocity is momentum, and the change in momentum is impulse.

This meant that the greater the velocity, the higher the destructive power of the martial arts. Moreover, force had action and reaction acting simultaneously. In other words, the greater the force exerted, the larger the load placed on the body.

‘It is a realm that can only be reached by unifying cognitive perception, physical ability, and internal energy.’

In that he had achieved such a realm through unorthodox martial arts, even though he was a devil, there were things to learn from the Red Yang Demonic Immortal.

Just as the saying goes, “The Great Tao has no gate, yet there are a thousand different paths,” although there was no clear correct answer to the path of reaching the Tao, the ways toward that gate numbered in the thousands and tens of thousands.

However, because the Red Yang Demonic Immortal’s Zhurong Seal was too alien compared to the Wudang Sect’s, it was difficult to use as reference. Instead, what I thought about was the formula of internal energy operation he used to reinforce his body.

‘If I refine it well, the Two-Section Brocade might increase to a Three-Section Brocade. If I slightly supplement the formula that is weak against shear stress…’

Although I organized the formulas for a moment, I did not immediately sink deep into my inner self. This was because my fellow disciples were not with me on this mission. It would have been troublesome if I were struck by an unmonitored enemy while concentrating.

Of course, even though the Danyang Sect had been wiped out as of yesterday, there was no harm in being careful. Realizing once again that this was a solo mission, I raised my body at the sound that stimulated my hearing.

Downstairs, people were having a meal.

“Ah, Young Hero Yeon!”

The Taoists of the Cloud Sword Hall welcomed me warmly.

Because the Cloud Sword Hall was recovering its reputation through the events of last night, the expressions of the Taoists were bright.

“Is the youngest Taoist’s body alright?”

At my question, the direct disciple of the deceased hall master nodded.

“Though he suffered internal injuries, they say he can recover after resting for a few days. Thank you for worrying about him.”

“You may speak comfortably. You are much older than me.”

“That cannot be.”

The Cloud Sword Taoist’s eyes were firm.

“Even if the Cloud Sword Hall is a branch of the Wudang Sect, we owe you our lives. Even treating you as our lifelong benefactor for the rest of our days would not be enough.”

All the Cloud Sword Taoists had similar gazes.

And that was the same for Tang Jong-hyeok, who was eating a meal.

“Indeed, Little Brother Yeon. It probably wouldn’t feel comfortable for them to speak casually either.”

As Yeon Baek-jung nodded at Tang Jong-hyeok’s words—who had begun calling him by a slightly more friendly title at some point—the Cloud Sword Taoists spoke up in excited voices.

“Thanks to Young Hero Yeon and your companions, we discovered a poison pouch on the body of the Danyang Sect Leader.”

“The captured Danyang disciples have also confessed.”

“However, we have not yet confirmed the source of this poison, but we will confirm it as soon as we rebuild the Cloud Sword Hall to repay your kindness.”

At that moment, the beggars of the Beggars’ Sect, including Gold-Knot Wandering Beggar and Yang So, entered the inn.

Had the Beggars’ Sect beggars not broken in and helped, the number of people eating a meal today would have been even smaller.

The Cloud Sword Taoists bought meals to welcome the Beggars’ Sect.

“Hehehe. This is why one lives as a beggar.”

Gold-Knot Wandering Beggar and Yang So sat opposite us.

Gold-Knot Wandering Beggar, who had chased the Red Yang Demonic Immortal last night, looked a little tired.

“What happened to the Red Yang Demonic Immortal?”

In response to my question, Gold-Knot Wandering Beggar spoke while chewing on the freshly served noodles,

“Old ginger is indeed very spicy. A disciple was hit by the Zhurong Seal unleashed during the pursuit, so we lost him.”

I recalled the faces of the members of the Hall of Rectitude who had joined the bloody battle last night. Every single one of them was a person whose young and clever eyes shone.

“Are the injured ones alright?”

“Hehehe. Don’t worry. Beggars are sturdy. They will recover quickly after taking medicine and resting.”

No matter how injured he was, the Red Yang Demonic Immortal was still a master who had achieved the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown. Since movement skill ability for long-distance travel ultimately depended on the operation of internal energy, the depth of inner strength, and physical stamina derived from essence, it would not have been easy for the Beggars’ Sect beggars to pursue and slay him, no matter how outstanding their movement skills were.

Having the same thought, Tang Jong-hyeok offered words of consolation,

“Even an old wild dog will bite a person when cornered. Do not be too disheartened.”

At Tang Jong-hyeok’s words, Gold-Knot Wandering Beggar showed a sly smile. No regret over losing the legendary great devil of the past could be seen. Rather, he even looked delighted.

As Tang Jong-hyeok, puzzled by that appearance, tilted his head, Gold-Knot Wandering Beggar emptied his bowl, smacked his lips, and continued speaking,

“Actually, it might turn out for the better. We beggars are incredibly good at catching scents. In particular, there is no beggar whose nose is so clogged that they cannot smell the stench wafting from an old dog. Above all, since there are beggars wherever one goes under heaven, we will soon be able to catch his tail.”

Gold-Knot Wandering Beggar’s confidence.

The pride that the Beggars’ Sect disciples possessed in their own sect was felt directly.

After emptying another bowl of noodles handed to him by Yang So, Gold-Knot Wandering Beggar handed a book to the Cloud Sword Taoists.

“Ah, and this. It is a document found in the Danyang Sect Leader’s office. You will be able to find the details of the payments the sect leader made to purchase the poison. Combined with the physical evidence found yesterday, this document will be of help in restoring the Cloud Sword Hall’s honor.”

At those words, the eyes of the Cloud Sword Taoists who had shared last night’s bloody battle turned hot.

Thus, after the affairs in Chibi were concluded,

“I will take a boat from here to return to my family’s estate. Make sure to visit the Tang Clan’s main headquarters sometime, Little Brother Yeon.”

“I understand. I will definitely stop by when our paths cross.”

Tang Jong-hyeok, who had become very close to me while sharing the mission, boarded the boat, and

“Then we shall be on our way too. We have a mountain of scents to sniff out until our noses bleed.”

Gold-Knot Wandering Beggar and Yang So of the Beggars’ Sect also departed.

And I, too, headed toward Mount Wudang once again.

Thus, my first solo mission concluded successfully.

**

Gold-Knot Wandering Beggar, who had parted from the group, suddenly spoke while walking along a mountain path,

“How was it? From what you saw by his side.”

Gold-Knot Wandering Beggar, who had consistently spoken informally until now, was using respectful language. Furthermore, he did so to Yang So, who was much younger than himself.

Even so, Yang So replied naturally, as if it were not awkward.

“It is exactly as you reported.”

While she spoke, Yang So’s low and deep voice gradually became higher, and her body shape also began to change.

Along with a cracking sound, Yang So, whose bodily curves revived, took off the bamboo hat she had been wearing all this time and spoke,

“Bringer of Chaos. That moniker is exactly as described.”

Then he—no, she—swept her hand along her belt.

As the overlapped parts of what seemed to be four knots were revealed,

The number of knots tied around her waist was eight.

It was one short of nine, which symbolized the Dragon Head Sect Leader, the leader of all beggars under heaven.